Cobalt (Co)
Humans absorb cobalt (Co) both as organic Co and as vitamin B12, and the body treats these two form differently. Humans cannot convert inorganic Co into vitamin B12, but B12 provides the only documented function of Co in the human body.
The dietary content of B12 varies upon the types of foods eaten, the geographic location and type of soil, and vegetarians often have lower Co levels than meat eaters.
Natural Co is found in:
- fish
- nuts
- green leafy vegetables (broccoli and spinach, for example)
- cereals (oats, for example)
Research shows that excess Co can impair myocardial metabolism, which results in metabolic acidosis. It’s good to do a periodic hair analysis to check your Co levels.